Super Bowl Dream Comes True For Colon Cancer Patient

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — It’s the dream of a lifetime for Paula Smith – the chance to see her beloved Steelers play in the Super Bowl.

Suffering from inoperable colon cancer and already having outlived her doctors’ predictions of survival, Paula made a wish after the Steelers won the AFC Championship.

“You only live once. Make your dream come true — live life to the fullest and I said, ‘Oh I want to go to the Super Bowl so bad,’” Paula said.

Her cadre of loyal friends led by Audrey Antoski went into action, hopping on the phone and clouded the internet with emails.

Paula said a prayer.

“You know, who knows how long I’ll be here, and I said, ‘It’s going to be in God’s hands. Send out the prayers everybody and hopefully I can get tickets to go,’” she said.

An angel responded in the form of a linebacker – former Penn Stater and Dallas Cowboy standout Sean Lee came up with a pair of tickets and an Arlington Hotel comped her a room.

Others chipped in for the plane tickets and Paula is set to go.

“I can’t wait to get there,” she said. “It’s just going to be awesome.”

The fact the game is against the Packers makes it even more special. Paula went to Bishop Boyle High School with Packers coach Mike McCarthy. It’s an enduring friendship, but not quite strong enough to make her switch allegiances.

God Bless & Enjoy!! My Son, age 42 had hestitations of going to Super Bowl XL in Detroit due to financial expenses however he did go & never stopped talking about it. After a hard battle he died in Oct. 09 of Scaroma cancer. Forever grateful he had the experience of a Steeler Super Bowl.
Go girl, keep that positive attitude & fight to beat all odds!

Paula,
While in Texas, checkout the Burzynski Clinic in Houston. There is also a clinic in Tijuana, Mexico named The Hoxsey Clinic. They are curing cancer. You can be around to see the Steelers go to many more Super Bowls

Paula…I’m down south with Fred and Myrtle who are so excited for you. They both have the biggest smiles all day long and really wish the best time for you. Enjoy the greatest team in the league and all that goes with your trip to the 45th Super Bowl. The Snowbird Team at MICHA is behind you all the way. Best of Luck. xoxoxox

Hope you enjoy your game..im having a similiar situation going on too..i went through breast cancer when pittsburgh played in detroit in 2005/2006 superbowl game..then i was told again just within the last 2 weeks that i will be going through the breast cancer again..and here go the steelers again getting ready for another superbowl. So im praying thats a good positive sign for both myself in defeating cancer and the pittsburgh steelers will be defeating green bay..only thing is i live here in texas but was born and raised in pittsburgh..and i still couldnt afford to go to the superbowl…so i hope were all winners tomorrow…oh yeah if anyone wants to still send me to the game…im willing..ill even drive…love our black and gold.

Dear Paula, How wonderful that you got your chance to go to the Super Bow. It couldn’t have happened to a more deserving person. You have an angel in Audrey looking out for you. Enjoy watching your Steelers in person.

Paula – That’s what it;s all about. Making dreams come true and making a difference in someone’s life. Your friends love you, because you have made a difference in their life. Even though we haven’t kept in touch, I often think of those days at McBride Park when softball was our life. Your positive attitude and your encouragement always got me through that next hitter who was bigger than me and,who I knew could put that ball over the fense. Whatever did happen with that hitter was never as important as your encouraging words. Stay strong and God Bless you.

God has taken such a wonderful person who has touched so many lives along the way. My cousin got her dream come true thanks to all the great people in her life and some that didn’t even know her. Paula has now passed and she will always be in my heart and I will never forget all the times we had growing up. A special thanks goes out to all the people who made this possible for her. God bless and Paula you will never be forgotten. I love you forever…